Raiou (2010 Film)
Raiou (Japanese: 雷桜), also known as The Lightning Tree, is a 2010 Japanese period romance film directed by Ryuichi Hiroki. The screenplay was written by Masato Kato and Sachiko Tanaka, based on the novel by Mari Ueza. The film was released in Japan on October 22, 2010, and had its world premiere at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival in October 2010.
Plot
Set during the Edo period, the story follows Narimichi, a young man from the high-ranking Tokugawa family who feels stifled by his sheltered life. After hearing a legend about a mountain monster named Tenku, he travels to the village of Setamura with his retainer, Sukejiro Seta. In the mountains, he encounters a woman named Rai, who was abducted as a child and raised in isolation by her foster father, Riemon. The two meet under a distinctive tree known as "Raiou," which was struck by lightning and subsequently sprouted cherry blossoms. As they grow closer, they must navigate the rigid social hierarchies of their time.
Production
The film was produced by Takashi Hirano and distributed by Toho. Principal photography commenced in March 2009 in the Kyushu region of Japan.
Cast
- Masaki Okada as Narimichi
- Yu Aoi as Rai / Yu
- Keisuke Koide as Sukejiro Seta
- Akira Emoto as Kakunoshi Enokido
- Saburo Tokito as Riemon
- Yoshiko Miyazaki as Tae
- Soko Wada as Suketarou Seta
- Risa Sudo as Ohatsu
- Ryuya Wakaba as Hideosuke Sakakibara
- Shugo Oshinari as Tetsunosuke Imaizumi
- Jun Murakami as Rokurouhutoshi Ikanai
- Kengo Kora as Tomozou
- Tasuku Emoto as Shigezi
- Ren Osugi as Sennokai Takayama
- Bengal as Monnosuke Hayasaka
- Shinnosuke Ikehata as Bunnosusumu Tadokoro
- Mitsugoro Bando as Ienari Tokugaa
- Rina Endo as Ritsu
Film Festivals
Following its world premiere at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival in 2010, the film was screened at the 13th Udine Far East Film Festival in 2011 and the 5th Granada Film Festival Cines del Sur in 2011.
